As Osun State gears up for its February 22, 2025, local government election, the Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development (IICSD) has called on residents to actively engage in the electoral process by scrutinizing candidates and their manifestos to make informed choices.
The non-governmental organization, known for its Osun Open Local Government Project, also called on the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to enhance transparency and ensure robust public engagement as preparations for the election continue.
In a statement signed by Jare Tiamiyu, Executive Director, and Sodiq Yusuf, Senior Communications Officer, IICSD emphasized the critical role of grassroots governance, particularly in light of the recent financial autonomy granted to local governments.
The statement reads:
“We are on the threshold of another election to the most critical level of governance in our dear state. This election, coming at a time when local governments have been granted financial autonomy, is immensely important for Osun State.
“Therefore, it must not be toyed with. All hands must be on deck. The people should be open to receiving candidates of political parties and should engage them with inquiries about how they intend to serve.
“In the last few weeks, political parties and their candidates have been campaigning vigorously. From our checks, this is arguably the most intense campaign period for a local government election since 1999. It shows that our people are beginning to understand the importance of governance at the grassroots level.”
IICSD urged community development associations and town unions to create platforms for scrutinizing candidates and examining their manifestos for the development of human and material resources.
The organization also charged OSSIEC to intensify its engagement with stakeholders, including the media and civil society organizations, to ensure voters have access to adequate and timely information about the electoral process.
“As an organization committed to achieving transparency and accountability at the local government level, we will continue to charge stakeholders to fulfill their roles. We remain committed to fostering good governance and prosperity for our people,” the statement concluded.
The group further encouraged voters to ask pertinent questions of the candidates and demand credible, equitable representation, noting that this was key to addressing the developmental aspirations of the state.
The 2025 Osun local government election is expected to be a significant milestone for grassroots governance in the state, and IICSD called on all stakeholders to work together to ensure its success.
